Seanad debates
Friday, 20 March 2020
An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála eile ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail), 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages
11:00 am
James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
We are facing a really difficult situation. This is only the beginning of it. I commend the Minister, the Government and everybody else, the Opposition included, for the way they have handled this. We could find ourselves in a situation where we are really struggling with health personnel, and the possibility of being able to review a patient within that time could present real difficulties. We are in the area here, dare I say it, of Typhoid Mary, somebody who just will not co-operate. The legislation is clear that the medical officer must reasonably believe, so there is going to be medical input at the beginning. Of course, like others, I would be very concerned that somebody could be detained for 14 days without being actually properly fully assessed, if that is what people are concerned about.
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